Store front structure



Aug. 22, 1961 H. OWEN STORE moms'mucruns 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original FiledMay 10. 1957 INVEN TOR. lzqeer A- Omsw.

BY M @W Aug. 22, 1961 H. OW EN SI'ORE FRONT STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed lay 10, 195"! HVVHVTOR. Haze) A. OWE/V 4 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. fmeer A. Ola-w.

ATmEA/E K Aug. 22, 1961 OWEN STORE FRONT STRUC'IURE Original Filed lay10, 1957 22, 1961 a L. OWEN 5mm: mommm 4 Sheets-sleet 4 Original Filed b10, 1957 F16. ll.

DVVEVTOI. OWE/V. @MZW HAZE) 1 United States Patent 25,030 STORE FRONTSTRUCTURE L. Owen, Niles, Mich.

Original No. 2,917,793, dated Dec. 22, I959, Ser. No. 658,364, May 10,1957. Application for reissue Feb. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 10,826

6 Claims. (Cl. 20-563) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to improvements in store front structures, andmore particularly to structures by means of which stsore Windows may bemounted in a building.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which provides a proper and safe setting for glass panels ofthe plate and spaced plate assembly types.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character whichpermits rapid and simple installation, which presents an attractivearchitectural appearance, which permits the use of standard sizes oflumber in the building structure to which the store front structure isto be secured, which is watertight, which is of minimum cost consistentwith required strength and rigidity of construction, and which requiresa minimum number of constituent elements to produce a store frontstructure of any desired design, set back, recessing or generalappearance.

A further object is to provide a store front structure in which sash anddivision, corner and reverse corner bars are so designed that the glassretained thereby is free to rock within the setting to insure safesetting of the glass therein.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in whichsecuring screws are concealed at both the outer and inner sides of thesash.

A further object is to provide a store front construction in which theelements or parts are so constructed that they fit together attractivelywith butt edges and joints and without the need for mitering abuttingends if such mitering is not desired.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a store front embodying myinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional detail view taken on line 22of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal detail sectional view taken on line 33of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional detail view taken on 'line 44of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal detail sectional view taken on line 5'5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal detail sectional view taken on line 66of FIG. 1

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical detail sectional view taken on line 7-7of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the costructionshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged horizontal detail sectional view similar to FIG. 4but illustrating a modified form of the construction;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 1010 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 10 butillustrating a modification of the construction; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged horizontal detail sectional view "ice 2illustrating a modification of the construction and being taken on line33 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, the numeral 10 designates the front of a building havingstructural members, such as two-by-fours 12, outlining the windowopening at the front of the building within which one or more glasspanels 14 are to be mounted. Angle members are secured to the structuralmembers 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, being preferably providedwith a leg 16 which forms the facing for the structural, member 12, andan angularly extending leg 18 against the surface of the member 12 whichoutlines the window opening. Suitable securing means, such as screws 20as illustrated in FIG. 6, may be employed to anchor the angle members inplace to surround the window opening.

The manner in which the vertical sash may be arranged to anchor plateglass panel 14 is illustrated in FIG. 6 and entails the use of amarginal trim strip 22 nailed or otherwise secured to the structuralmember 12 to provide an abutment for the margin of the glass panel 14. Asash face member of angle shape in cross-section is applied to the outerface of the glass panel as illustrated in FIG. 6. This sash face memberpreferably includes a leg 24 having a rounded glass-engaging edge 26 anda longitudinal inwardly projecting lip 28. A second leg 30 projectsperpendicularly from leg 24 and substantially parallel to the glasspanel 14 and is adapted to bear against the leg 18 of the angle memberas shown. The leg 30 has a longitudinal table or flange 32 extendinglengthwise thereof and perpendicular thereto for a substantial width andhas a longitudinal groove 34 in the face of said flange 32. Note thatthe flange 32 is spaced from the free edge of the leg 30 at a slightdistance compared to its spacing from the leg 24. The face sash isanchored by means of leaf springs which preferably have a centralportion 36 adapted to seat against the parts 18 and 22, and has an endportion or lip 38 adapted to engage behind the lip 28 of the channel leg24 and an opposite end part 40 seating in groove 34 of table 32. Thespring member will be anchored at its central portion 36 as by means ofthe securing member 42. The sash face member is preferably installed byengaging the lip 28 thereof behind the spring lip 38 and then pressinginwardly against the free end of the leg 30 to cause the table 32 toengage behind the lip end portion 40 of the spring.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sash member constructed of two parts and, as shown,being adapted for use with a window having two spaced panels 50marginally connected and sealed by a spacer 52 to define a sealed deadair insulatimg space 54 between the panels. The two-part sash preferablyseats against the two-by-four or other structural member 12 and, asshown, bears upon the leg 18 of the angle member 16. A molding or trimmember 56 may be secured to the structure member 12 to form an abutmentor shoulder against which bears the wall or flange 58 of the innermember of the sash, and the upper end of which has a perpendicularlyextending flange 60 against which the inner face of the inner glasspanel 50 is adapted to bear at its margin. A table portion 62 projectsoutwardly from the wall member or flange 58 intermediate its height andterminates in a hook portion 64. A base portion 66 is outwardly offsetfrom table 62 to project outwardly in engagement with the flange 18 ofthe angle member 16 and is preferably provided with a plurality oflongitudinal grooves at its lower face, as illustrated. Securing screws68 serve to anchor the base "66 of the inner member of the sash to thebuilding structure, as to the structure member 12.

The outer member of the sash is of the same construction as describedabove with reference to the sash member shown in FIG. 6, and the samereference numerals used therein refer to the parts of the outer memberof the sash shown in FIG. 7. The spring means which serve to anchor theouter member of the sash are of somewhat diiferent construction thanthat shown in FIG. 6 and include an end portion 70 for engagement withthe inner lip 28 of the outer member of the sash, an opposite endportion 72 adapted -to seat in the groove 34 of the table portion orflange 3-2 of the outer member of the sash, and a hook member 74engaging with the hook 64 of the table 62 and serving as the means tohold the spring unit 76 in position with respect to the inner member ofthe sash.

Observe that the edge of the flange 60 is of rounded contour so that theglass is gripped by rounded surfaces, which contributes to the ease ofrocking glass which is necessary for the safe setting of plate glass anddouble panel units to insure that tensions and pressures will not beapplied thereto in such a manner as to damage the glass. Note that theflange 60 of the inner member of the sash is substantially coplanar withthe flange 24 of the outer member of the sash, giving to the assembledsash a flat appearance which eliminates depressions which wouldconstitute a gutter. This arrangement also facililtates arrangement ofthe sash members with the vertical parts butted between the topandbottom horizontal parts at their ends. This eliminates the need for capmembers and also avoids the need for miters. A rib 78 may be formed onthe inner face of the base 66 of the inner member of the sash to serveto guide the placing of setting blocks and to help in holding them inposition while the glass is being set in the sash. Grooves at the bottomsurface of the member 66 reduce the Weight of the unit without sacrificeof strength and also serve to assist in preventing water from workingits way between the base 66 and the member which it abuts.

The use of a two-part sash to anchor a single glass panel is illustratedin FIG. 5. In this instance the parts bear the same numerals applied tothe sash member in FIG. 7, although comparable parts have been somewhatdifferently dimensioned as required to accommodate the narrower width ofthe single glass panel 14 compared to the width of the spaced doubleglass panel structure accommodated by the construction in FIG. 7.

It is usually necessary to employ a plurality of glass panels toconstruct a store front by reason of the desire to recess a part of thestore front as shown in FIG. 1, which requires that adjacent panelsextend at diiferent angles, or by reason of the desire to limit themaximum size of the panels employed. Division bars, corner bars andreverse corner bars are provided herein which are of novel constructionand which serve to interconnect the adjacent panels and span theadjacent edges thereof. The construction illustrated in FIG. 2 disclosesa division bar for interconnecting adjacent marginal portions of a pairof coplanar glass panels 14 whose upper and lower m'argins are anchoredby any suitable means, such as the inner member 60 of the sash and theouter member 24 of the sash. The division bars consist of two moldings,namely an inner molding 80 and an outer molding 82. The inner molding 80is essentially of channel shape having a web portion 84 and a pair ofleg portions 86 which extend at an angle to the web 84 and which areprovided with longitudinal grooves 88 in their outer faces preferablyadjacent to the web 84. A pair of flanges 90 project perpendicularlyfrom the web 84 in substantially equispaced relation to the channel legs86 and spaced from one another to define guides terminating inwardlyrelative to the edges of legs 86.

The outer molding 82 of the division bar is essentially of channel shapeand preferably includes a web portion 92 and a pair of short channellegs 94 whose free edges are spaced apart substantially the samedistance as the free edges of the channel legs 86 of the inner channel80. A central flange 96 extends perpendicular to the channel web 92 andprojects beyond the plane of the free edges of channel legs 94. Flange96 preferably terminates in an enlarged longitudinal head portion 98 ofa transverse dimension to be received with a snug sliding fit betweenthe flanges 90 of the inner member of the division bar. Screws or othersecuring members 100 are passed through openings in the web 84 of theinner member of the division bar and are screw-threaded in apertures inthe enlarged head 98 to draw the member 82 toward the member 80 .for thepurpose of gripping the margins of the glass panels 14 between the edgesof the confronting aligned channel legs 86 and 94. The edges of theflanges 90 are preferably beveled as are the corners of the head 98 tofacilitate interengagement of these parts, and the edges of the flanges86 and 94 may be rounded or of any other desired configuration suitablefor safely engaging a glass panel.

The anchorage of the division, corner and reverse corner bars withrespect to the sash members or structual parts of a building by anchormembers engaging the ends of the division, corner and reverse cornerbars is illustrated in FIG. 8. The anchor members include base portionsor flanges 102 adapted to be secured to a support, such as member 56 orother building structural part by securing members 104. The anchormember has a substantially channel shaped body extending perpendicularto the base 102 and preferably including a web portion 106 and a pair ofleg portions 108 so spaced and arranged as to receive snugly betweenthem the inner member 80 of the division, corner or reverse corner bars.The legs 108 of the anchor member have inward projections 110 extendingparallel to each other and configured to snugly and slidably fit in thegroove 88 or" the molding 80.

It will be evident that the inner member of the division, corner orreverse corner bars can be secured in place very easily by applying thebar anchors at opposite ends thereof in interfitting engagement with thegrooves 88 receiving the projection 110 and then placing the assembly inproper position and anchoring the same by the use of securing means 104.Then the panels 14 are applied in place, members 82 of the division,corner or reverse corner bars are properly oriented to the inner members80 of the division, corner or reverse corner bars, and the securingmeans 100 are used to assemble and maintain said bar members in propersupporting and clamping engagement with the marginal portions of theadjacent window panes. Y

The construction illustrated in FIG. 3 uses the same inner member 80 ofa division, corner or reverse corner bar which has been described abovefor use in joining together adjacent marginal portions of a pair ofglass panels 14 which extend at an angle to each ct'ne In this instancethe outer member of the corner bar is of slightly different shape at theouter part thereof in that its web portion 93 is substantially V-shapedin crosssection and its flanges are arranged in inwardly convergingrelation so that their free edges abut the glass panels 14 opposite theedges of the flanges 86 of the inner member 80. The outer molding of thecorner bar has the same central connecting bar 96 with enlarged head 98received between the guide flanges 90 of the inner member 80 of thedivision, corner or reverse corner bar.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of the same inner member 80 and outer member82 of the division, corner of reverse corner bar as shown in FIG. 2 foruse in clamping the marginal edges of glass panels 14 arranged at rightre verse angles to each other. The same parts bear the same referencenumerals and cooperate in the same manner, although in this instance itwill be observed that the glassengaging flanges 86 and 94 extend at anacute angle to the glass panes which they engage.

In some instances the angles between the adjacent glass panels 14 to besupported by division, corner or reverse corner bars, or the structuralcharacteristics of the building, are such that the dimensions of theparts illustrated in FIG. 2 must be modified. Thus in FIG. 9 isillustrated a construction wherein the inner division, corner or reversecorner bar molding has its legs 86 and its guide flanges 90' elongatedcompared to the same parts of the division, corner or reverse corner barmolding 80, and similarly the central projecting flange 96' of the outerdivision, corner or reverse corner bar is elongated. In such instancesit may also be desirable to provide lateral flanges 112 on bar 96spacedfrom the enlarged head 98 and adapted to have a snug sliding fit betweenthe flanges 90 to facilitate proper orientation of the inner division,corner or reverse corner molding 80' and the outer division, corner orreverse corner bar molding 82.

In order to make it possible to set double pane insulating glass at anyselected angle at outside angles and reverse angles, a construction ofthe character illustrated in FIG. 10 is employed. In this instance thedouble glass panels are held in sash constructions of substantially thesame character illustrated in FIG. 7, similar parts bearing similarreference numerals. While the anchor spring has not been illustrated inFIG. 10, such an anchor spring is used and will be of substantially thesame construction illustrated in FIG. 7 or of any other type which willserve the intended purpose.

In this construction a substantially tubular corner molding 120 isprovided, thesame being of circular crosssectional shape through themajor part of its extent and being characterized by flanges 122projecting outwardly therefrom in substantially radial direction. One ofthese flanges carries an inwardly directed flange 124 extendinglengthwise and at an acute angle thereto and forming a base againstwhich the base plate 66 of the adjacent inner sash member is secured asby securing screws 126. The other flange 122 has projecting therefrom aflange 128 against which portion 59 of the wall 58 of the inner memberof the sash, which may be offset as shown in FIG. 10, is adapted toengage. A shoulder 130 may be provided on the part 128 substantiallycoplanar with the flange 124 to support the edge of the member 59. Themember 120 may be likened to a knuckle and cooperates with a socketmember 132 which is provided with a concave surface 134 extendinglengthwise thereof and of a curvature conforming to the curvature of theouter surface of the knuckle member 120. The member 13-2 preferably hasa fiat base surface 136 against which the base flange 66 of the adjacentinner member of the window sash may be anchored by securing member 138,and if desired, a flange 140 may project from the member 132 forengagement with the outer surface of the flange 59 of the inner memberof the sash, as shown.

It will be apparent that the construction illustrated in FIG. 10 makespossible the positioning of the dual insulating glass panels 50 at anyangle to each other within a wide range, such as a range of 270 degreesor more, and that the only requirement with respect to these parts isthat the apertures in the knuckle 120 which receive the securing members138 be drilled on the job or else predrilled to accurate position forproper angular orientation between the flange 124 of the knuckle 120 andthe surface 136 of the socket member 1 32. Observe in this connectionthat the construction also makes possible the use of spring locked sash,such as illustrated in FIG. 7, to clamp the margin of the insulateddouble glass panels rather than relying upon the use of securing screws,as illustrated in FIG. 2, which might be subjected to injuring thedouble glass panel if tightened to an excessive extent.

The construction illustrated in FIG. 5 is particularly useful for thepurpose of connecting a glass panel extending at an angle to the planeof a door to the frame of that door or for connecting a glass panel atan angle to any part of a building. In this connection a door frame 150will preferably be formed of tubular metal of substautially rectangularcross-sectional shape. A swivel adapter 152 in the nature of astructural member of arcuate cross-sectional shape is positioned to fitupon a corner of the door frame to cooperate therewith to define a postwith the opposite longitudinal edges thereof bearing againstperpendicularly disposed surfaces of the frame member 150. Substantiallycentrally of the member 152 is provided a pair of integral converginglongitudinal flanges 154 which bear against the outer surfaces of theadjacent walls 150 at a corner defined thereby. Thus a four pointcontact is provided between the swivel adapter 152 and the door frame150 to properly orient the .parts. A channel adapter cooperates with theswivel adapter and preferably comprises a structural member of channelcross-section having a web portion 156 and a pair of leg portions 158.Suitable securing means may be employed to interconnect these parts insuch a manner that the edges of the legs 158 will bear againstcircumferentially spaced longitudinal linear parts of the exteriorsurface of the swivel adapter 152. Thus in FIG. 5 a securing member hasbeen illustrated as passing through the parts 156 and 152 to connect thesame. In order to avoid an angular hole in the door frame member 150, asecuring screw 1-61 is passed through the member 152 at a point spacedfrom the part 154 to enter a tapped hole extending perpendicularlythrough a wall of a door frame 150 spaced from a corner thereof. Such asecuring member 161 may be preferably located at a position which isconcealed by the adapter 158 when the parts are assembled. The baseplate 66 of the inner member of the sash will be secured to the web 156by suitable securing means 162. A spring 76 will serve to anchor theouter member 2 4, 30 of the sash to the inner member 58, 60 of the sash.

The construction illustrated in FIG. 11 shows a slight modification ofthe construction illustrated in FIG. 10 and used for the positioning ofplate glass panels 14, or a window having two spaced panels 50, mountedbetween outer stops 30' and inner stops 58 or between outer and innermembers of a sash. In this construction the tubular corner molding orpost 120' is substantially similar to the corner molding 120 previouslydescribed, being characterized by a circular cross-sectional shapethrough the major part of its extent and by flanges 122' projectingoutwardly therefrom in substantially radial directions, and in thisinstance being interconnected by a base flange 124. The stops 30' and58', or sash members, are suitably connected to the base 124'. A socketmember 132' cooperates with the tubular member 120' and is hereillustrated as being formed of substantially channel shape, having acontinuous base against which the stops 30' and 58', or sash members,abut and to which they are secured and also having flanges 133projecting therefrom in diverging relation to engage the outer surfaceof the tubular part 120'.

The construction illustrated in FIG. 12 is a variation of theconstruction illustrated in FIG. 5 and is intended primarily for use inconnection with any arrangement known in the art as a curtain wallconstruction wherein vertical tubular or channel members of any desiredconfiguration and construction are provided at spaced points along abuilding surface and glass or other panels extend between said membersand at selected angles to said members and to adjacent panels. As hereshown, a tubular member has an inner molding 202 of substantiallychannel shape whose legs are characterized by inwardly offset flanges204 adjacent their free ends and define channels to receive offset ends206 of the legs 208 of an opposite channel 210. The two channels 202 and210 cooperate and define a post of substantially rectangularcross-section. Swivel adapter 152 is secured to this rectangularcross-section structure 202, 210 in substantially the same manner asillustrated in FIG. 5 to form a part of an assembled post, and channeladapter 156, 158 is associated therewith also in the manner illustratedin 5| g and configurations.

This store front construction has the outstanding advantage of requiringa minimum number of different parts to construct store fronts ofdifferent shapes, sizes Thus the number of parts which must be stockedis small compared with the number of parts which are now conventionallystocked by store front manufacturers and distributors. At the same timeall of the advantages of safe anchorage of glass, architecturallypleasing appearance, minimum cost, and other considerations which aredesirable in store fronts, are preserved and maintained in thisconstruction.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it will be understood that changes in the constructionmay be made within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a store front construction for mounting a glass panel within awindow opening, a multiple part corner bar outlining a part of saidwindow opening, a sash structure embracing the marginal portions of saidpanel adjacent said bar, one of said bar parts constituting a posthaving a curved portion of longitudinally uniform exteriorly convexcross-section, the other bar part constituting a channel having a baseportion and a pair of flange portions having parallel edges spaced aparta distance less than the width of the convex curved portion of saidpost, means securing said bar parts together in selected angularrelation with the edges of said flange portions abutting said curvedconvex portion of said post, and means securing said sash structure tothe base portion of said channel, said post constituting a member ofrectangular cross-section and a member of C-shaped crosssection definingsaid curve convex portion and secured to said rectangular member withits longitudinal edges in engagement therewith.

2. In a store front structure for mounting a glass panel within a windowopening, a tubular post outlining a part of said window opening, a sashstructure embracing the marginal portion of said panel adjacent saidpost, an adapter of channel section having a base portion mounting saidsash structure and having spaced flanges terminating in parallel edges,a second adapter secured to said post and having a longitudinallyuniform convex curved exterior surface with parallel edges spaced aparta distance greater than the spacing of the edges of the flanges of saidfirst adapter, means for securing said second adapter to said post withits parallel edges in contact with said post, means for securing saidadapters together with the parallel edges of the first adapter incontact with the curved exterior surface of said second adapter, andmeans securing said sash structure to the base of said first adapter.

3. A building construction for mounting a building panel in an opening,a multiple part corner bar outlining part of said opening, a sashstructure carried by a part of said bar and embracing the marginalportion of said panel adjacent said bar, one of said bar partsconstituting a post having a longitudinal knuckle portion of uniformexteriorly convex substantially circular cross-section and more than incross-sectional extent and spaced symmetrical longitudinal shouldersextending divergently substantially radially from opposi e longitudinalmargins of said knuckle portion substantially imperforate meansconnecting the outer marginal portions of said shoulders, the other barpart constituting an elongated socket embracing a part of said knuckleportion and having an outer base portion spaced from said knuckleportion and outer side surfaces extending convergently from said baseportion, said socket including knuckle-engaging edge surface portionsadjacent said side surfaces and spaced apart a distance less than thewidth of the knuckle portion, and means securing said bar parts togetherin selected angular relation with the post-engaging edge portions ofsaid socket in contact with the convex knuckle portion of said post,each side surface of said socket being complementary to the shoulders ofsaid post adjacent thereto and adapted for face engagement with saidadjacent shoulder in one angular position of said bar parts.

4. A building construction for mounting a building panel in an opening,a multiple part corner bar outlining part of said opening, a sashstructure carried by a part of said bar and embracing the marginalportion of said panel adjacent said bar, one of said bar partsconstituting a hollow post having a longitudinal knuckle portion oflongitudinally uniform substantially circular C-shape in cross-sectionand more than 180 in cross-sectional extent and spaced symmetricallongitudinal flanges extending divergently substantially radially fromopposite longitudinal margins of said C-shaped portion s bstantiallyimperforate means connecting the outer marginal portions of saidshoulders, the other bar part constituting an elongated channelembracing a part of said knuckle portion and having a base portion and apair of flange portions having parallel edges spaced apart a distanceless than the width of the C-shaped portion of said post, and meanssecuring said bar parts together in selected angular relation with theedges of said flange portions abutting the C-shaPed portion of saidpost.

5. A building construction as defined in claim 4, wherein each flange ofsaid channel is complementary to the adjacent flange of said post andadapted for face engagement therewith in one angular position of saidbar parts.

6. A b ilding construction as defined in claim 4, wherein the baseportion of said channel contacts the C-shaped portion of said postbetween and spaced from said channel flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,199,357 Evans Sept. 26, 1916 1,893,956 MichaelsJan. 10, 1933 2,144,515 Trumpbour Jan. 17, 1939 2,312,179 Lowry Feb. 23,1943

